The functions Help says "The time zone for an iCloud file: The file’s time zone matches the time zone in iCloud settings when the file is first created." In other words, if the file is stored in iCloud the date doesn't update on opening. This is hugely annoying and inconvenient. Can anyone suggest a way around this problem, so that the formula updates automatically?
paulgc wrote:
In other words, if the file is stored in iCloud the date doesn't update on opening.
I store most of my documents in iCloud and TODAY() and NOW() behave as expected. In other words, NOW() does update when I open a document or make changes. TODAY() updates when the date changes.
The description in the help is talking about the time zone only. If you store the document on iCloud Drive Numbers assumes the time zone you see when you log into iCloud.com and go to Settings. The time itself will change.
SG
The non-update problem seems to have fixed itself. When I typed the formula =TODAY()+6 into a cell and custom formatted the date to 15-Oct-20 it wouldn't update in subsequent days. But when I typed the formula into a cell on a new sheet, and then copied it into the original cell, it updates fine. Wierd. Maybe it was something in the formatting of the original cell or even the template. Who knows? But I don't need to understand Why, I'm just happy it's working. Thanks.
If you don't want a cell with TODAY() to update, click it once, command-c to copy, and (with the cell still selected) Edit > Paste Formula Results.
You can also input today's date-time (a Numbers cell includes both date and time though you can format it to show only the the date or only the time) by double-clicking in a cell (so the cursor is flashing inside it) and in the menu Insert > Date & Time. This will not update.
SG
OK, thanks, I take your point about time zone. But I still have the updating issue. I imagine there must be 2 ways to input today's date, because under some circumstances I'll want it to update, and under others I won't, I'll just want to record the date I did something. Does that make sense?
TODAY and NOW functions in Numbers
